GUEST BLOG JANUARY 5, 2017

If you were wondering, Andy is currently away on racing duties. He’s asked me if I could provide some content for his blog. Content is something you probably already know about me – I’m a long time collaborator, providing race images as well as some other pictures you might have seen recently on Andy’s blog and on Facebook. I ‘do’ the odd wedding for example.

I’m Chris Keller-Jackson, a Photo Journalist, and have worked in the Cycling Industry for over 15 years, working both on the business and consumer side of the trade. This has taken me far and wide, Taiwan, America, Germany – but mainly Manchester. I’m based in the North West of England so Manchester and its Velodrome are not a hardship to get too.

Whilst I have experience in Road, BMX, Mountain Biking and Track, photographically I do specialise in Track, and have a gallery at the Velodrome, as well as 3 previous exhibitions. Track has become a bit of a passion and it was the Revolution Series where I first met Andy and his now wife, Lauren. Andy has always been a very capable rider and always puts the effort in (I’m not even being paid to say that !) and I think he first came fully onto my radar in 2012 wearing a stripey jumper alongside long term friend, Ed Clancy. Andy had a Custom painted Condor bike by Chris Grove at Performance Race Art and he asked me to shoot it. I captured the bike (Capt. Andy Tennant – who made him an officer ?) as well as some cool racing action from the boys.

Since then, Andy has been a good friend and a great subject to photograph ! He’s not only expressive with his exertions (some great grimace action !) but he’s not head down like some other riders. This means I get animated shots, in the ‘change’ or digging deep into a bend. Being an approachable guy helps, and like most track riders of his calibre, he’s great around the public and is happy to chat and spend time with others. As Andy is a well known rider, I often get requests from sponsors for images to be used in advertising and for promotional purposes.

Andy was a shy photographic subject when I first met him – he was a ‘Blinker’ and I would sometime end up with dud images as a result. On track he often wears Oakley shades which helps, Thankfully we are over that now, having done shoots with him in Alderley Edge, London and for his Wedding last year in non racing situations, he’s become a much better subject. Lauren on the other hand is a natural.

I’m currently working on updating my website, if you want to check out some of my work (I don’t just photograph Andy !), just go to www.crankphoto.co.uk ,or follow me on Twitter or Instagram @crankphoto. Would love your feedback.